3 Benefits Of Giving Eco-Conscious & Eco-Friendly Promotional Gifts

Taking care of the planet is everyone’s responsibility and employers are not exempt from this duty. Oftentimes, the smallest change in our behaviour and attitude towards issues such as pollution and global warming can have the biggest impact on Earth. In fact, it can even be argued that employers have a unique position to influence the behaviour of staff and clients by making use of eco-friendly promotional and corporate gifts. It is estimated that about 14 billion pounds of waste end up in our oceans each year. Most of it appears to be plastic. According to reports, only 9% of the world’s plastic is recycled. The rest is dumped somewhere to either biodegrade (which takes years) or it ends up in landfills, rivers, fields etc. After plastic decomposes, it morphs into toxic microplastics. So what does this have to do with businesses, you might ask? Companies also play a role when it comes to the consumption of goods. Other than that, corporations have a social responsibility to ensure that they set an example to other businesses, clients and employees to adopt a sustainable approach to the world of work. One way in which this can be done is to opt for eco-friendly promotional and corporate gifts. In this article, we list the top three reasons why your business should make the change. What are eco-friendly products? Before we dive into the benefits of eco-friendly promotional and corporate gifts, it must first be clarified what we mean when referring to such items. Eco-friendly literally means earth-friendly or not harmful to the environment. This term most commonly refers to products that contribute to green living or practices that help conserve resources like water and energy. Eco-friendly products also prevent contributions to air, water and land pollution. From this definition, it becomes clear that eco-friendly products are sustainably produced using either recycled materials or materials that are biodegradable. What are eco-friendly products? Before we dive into the benefits of eco-friendly promotional and corporate gifts, it must first be clarified what we mean when referring to such items. Eco-friendly literally means earth-friendly or not harmful to the environment. This term most commonly refers to products that contribute to green living or practices that help conserve resources like water and energy. Eco-friendly products also prevent contributions to air, water and land pollution. From this definition, it becomes clear that eco-friendly products are sustainably produced using either recycled materials or materials that are biodegradable. Reducing your carbon footprint A recent report by the United Nations has estimated that we have only 12 years left to limit the devastating effects of global warming. It further explained that companies are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to large carbon footprints in the way in which they not only produce goods, but also use them. By opting for eco-friendly products that are made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials, companies can make a difference in the overall carbon footprint that corporations leave behind. If all companies were to adopt this approach, the effects of global warming could be limited drastically. Companies often opt for plastic materials when selecting corporate gifts. These include branded staplers, stationery holders and even plastic cups. All of these items have high-quality, eco-friendly alternatives available that can be bought instead. You’ll create a culture of awareness Companies play a pivotal role in shaping the way their employees think and operate, even in their personal lives. It has been said that there is a 59% chance that employees will adopt key norms and values from their office culture and integrate it with their personal lives. By making the change to eco-friendly promotional and corporate gifts, businesses will change their work culture. An example of sustainability and responsibility will be set for employees to follow. Potentially, we are dealing with a snowball effect, because if employees take this mindset into their personal domain, an even greater network of people will be living more consciously when deciding which kinds of products to buy. Other than that, companies opting to only purchase eco-friendly promotional products will likely influence other businesses to do the same and soon thereafter, a trend is likely to form. The right message will be sent to clients When it comes to promotional gifts, businesses usually send these to customers or potential new clients. This helps to build a relationship with one’s target market. More importantly, it establishes brand awareness and recognition among an organization's audience. In a recent article on Forbes, it was said that 90% of CEO’s admit that a trend is starting to form where clients are more likely to do business with a company that follows a sustainable approach than those who do not. In the same piece, it was found that 88% of businesses school students have indicated that a fundamental part of a company’s public image hinges on their policies regarding sustainability. The evidence is clear. By ensuring that clients receive promotional material that is eco-friendly, the perception that they hold of the business will be markedly more positive than if such products were not used. By doing this, in turn, one’s business is likely to grow and customers might be more willing to do work with the company in future, seeing as they have positioned themselves as a responsible figure in their industry. Where to purchase eco-friendly promotional products Some myths exist about eco-friendly products, which include that they are expensive and usually of a lower quality than traditional products. Both of these assumptions are false. Eco-friendly products do not necessarily cost more than other products. In some cases, they might even be more affordable. In terms of quality, eco-friendly products do not compromise. Modern technology and processes mean that eco-friendly products are of the same or even higher quality than normal products. At Brandability, we offer a range of eco-friendly products. These products range from office essentials like stationery to diaries and mugs. All of these products can be branded by us to make it your own. We also guarantee the quality of these products, giving you peace of mind when making the shift to eco-friendly promotional items and corporate gifts. Visit our store to learn more.